Sometimes Simple is Best
I love the conversations I have with my athletes. Some of them stick with me for a while and I begin to think about how my relationship with my sports has changed over the years. One of my athletes is going to try her first 50 mile trail race. She was curious about how to plan for aid stations, drop bags, etc. It was obvious that it was overwhelming and taking the joy out of preparing for the race. I reflected on my first 50 mile race and looking back I am glad I did not overthink it. Our discussion changed to focusing on just enjoying the experience. Her training has more than proven she is capable, so why complicate things! When I did my first ultra social media was not a thing and there weren’t many influencers and role models. Ultra running was some secret club and you just showed up and ran. Of course the elites had a bit more structure but it was still not that complicated.
I can remember my first trail race. It was a 16 mile race that a friend dared me to run. I think my longest run was almost 4 miles leading up to the event. I went out and bought a cute pair of bright blue running shoes that were way too small for my feet but I wanted to make my feet look smaller. I showed up on race day and ended up having an absolute blast. I think I ran with a water bottle and a pair of pants that had pockets. I ate a lot of food at the aid stations, ran out of water between them and finished by walking with toes that were bleeding from my cute shoes that were too small.
That summer I heard about a 50 mile race in Vermont. I had a few friends that ran it and I ended up going to the event with friends unsure of whether or not I would run it. Of course that morning I figured why not. I grabbed my check book, registered and ran the race. Back then races didn’t really sell out so race morning was okay. I had my water bottle and pair of pants with pockets. I might have worn shorts but I think it was a pair of pants. I had no idea what I was doing and I believe I had run about 25 miles total that year leading up to the race. I was mountain biking but not really running.
The race started and I went out as fast as I could not realizing that an ultramarathon takes patience. Within a mile I completely blew up and started to walk every hill and jog the downhills. The flat sections were a mix of running and walking. When I got to the aid station my mind was blown! There was so much food! When I was racing mountain bikes you had feed zones and maybe some water and gels but that was really it. Seeing a table full of tasty treats was amazing and later in the race there was real food which was even better!
My body was not happy with me but I wanted to focus on getting from one aid station to the next so that I could eat all of the food. I chatted with so many fun people either out running or biking (if they were near me they were actually walking or pushing their bike up a hill, but that is okay!) As the day went on I continued to get slower and by about mile 30 I was very close to missing cutoffs. I can remember leaving an aid station and then running back to grab a pocket full of cookies shaped like hamburgers. They were so delicious! It was two vanilla wafers with a thin mint in the middle, green colored coconut and buttercream frosting in different colors to represent catsup and mustard. When I ran back the volunteers had told me I needed to get out of there or I would be pulled from the race. With all of my cookies in my pockets I was ready to push a bit harder.
My knees were swollen and sore and my feet ached with every step. By the time I got to the last aid station I barely had time to fill my bottle because the clock was ticking and I was barely moving. The last climb was absolutely demoralizing and even worse was running down the never ending hill with my knees aching, swollen feet and exhausted body. I could see the finish line and the clock. I had to make it before the cutoff. Limping as fast as possible I crossed the finish line with minutes to spare. I can remember collapsing as the volunteers brought me ice for my knees and even though there was barely any food left they did save some for the last finishers. I was psyched to have finished and that race was one of the best memories I have ever had from a trail race.
I was not able to walk normal for over a week and had to borrow my friends shoes which were 3 sizes too big, but it was one of the most fun experiences I had racing. Over the years I started to over think my plans and over complicate my strategy. As I became faster I fell into the routine of making everything complicated. In some ways you kind of need to if you want to win, but in other ways I wonder if you can still pull that off without a million spreadsheets and plans.
I think your first race at a new distance should be simple and should be fun. Some races have long distances between aid stations so planning is important to make sure you have what you need between the aid stations. For races that have aid stations that are close and well stocked it can be more fun just winging it! Having experienced both the front and back of the pack at races I feel that I understand the struggles and fears that people face whether they are going for a win, PR or chasing cutoffs. Practicing mindfulness, being honest with yourself and your goals is the key to enjoying your experience. It is always good to follow people you look up to and see what they are doing but also remember that what works for them may not work for you. Experiment and see what brings you the most joy in your training and racing. Sometimes it is doing something that nobody else is doing and that is okay.
Remember, having fun is the most important piece of the puzzle. Your fun can be going for a podium spot, finishing before the cut off and everything in between. You are allowed to change your goals at any time. <3